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Products in this category are scored under Frontum Headphones Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
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Audio-Technica ATH M30 Review | 93 Data compared

Avg. price:~£60Form factor:over-earConnectivity:wiredBattery life:N/A hoursActive noise cancellation (ANC):no

Audio-Technica ATH M30 Review: Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Headphones category and whether it is worth buying.

Audio-Technica ATH M30
5.4/10

Overall score

Score
5.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 89% of models
Score components

80%

5.4

Technical score

20%

?

User score

â–¼Worse than 89% of headphones
6.8

Value for money

Value for money
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 84% of models
Score components

70%

5.4

Overall score

30%

10

Price

â–¼Worse than 84%
5.4

Technical score

Technical score
5.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
Score components

52%

6.0

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

6.9

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

4.9

Calls & Controls

â–¼Worse than 79%
?

User score

User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

  • audio-technica-ath-m30
audio-technica-ath-m30
Where to buy
    N/A~ £60
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of pair of headphones Audio-Technica ATH M30

Technical score
Technical score
5.4/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Headphones category across these key areas: Sound, Calls & Controls, Connectivity, Features, Battery, Design.
When it matters
When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
Score components:

52%

6.0

Sound

20%

4.0

Features

10%

6.9

Design

8%

4.6

Connectivity

6%

4.0

Battery

4%

4.9

Calls & Controls

5.4
User score
User score
8.0/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 58% of models
Score components

70%

?

User ratings

30%

?

Number of reviews

?
Popularity
Popularity
1.0/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters
When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 99% of models
Popularity:
Audio-Technica ATH M30 has a popularity score of 1 point, which is lower than that of 73.4% of products in this category.
1.0
Value for money
Value for money
6.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 84% of models
Score components:

70%

5.4

Overall score

30%

10

Price

6.8
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
no
This pair of headphones does not support active noise cancellation. 27.5% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
dynamic
Driver size
40 mm
Market range: <10 mm – >50 mm
This pair of headphones uses a driver size of 40 mm, larger driver size than 28.6% of headphones and equal to 53.3% of headphones.
Number of drivers
1
Market range: <1 – >4
This pair of headphones uses 1 drivers, fewer drivers than 4% of headphones and equal to 96% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
20 Hz
Market range: <5 Hz – >20 Hz
This pair of headphones reaches a lowest frequency of 20 Hz, higher lowest frequency than 50.8% of headphones and equal to 47.3% of headphones.
Show more
Noise-canceling microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 39% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
yes
This pair of headphones is headset-ready, 84.8% is not. 15.2% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
0
Market range: <0 – >4
This pair of headphones has 0 microphones, fewer microphones than 73.2% of headphones and equal to 26.9% of headphones.
Boom microphone
no
This pair of headphones does not include a boom microphone. 13.5% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
N/A
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Connectivity
wired
This pair of headphones supports wired connectivity, less flexible connectivity than 49.2% of headphones and equal to 50.8% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
N/A
Audio latency
N/A
Multipoint support
no
This pair of headphones does not support multipoint. 30.6% of headphones support multipoint.
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Ambient sound mode
no
This pair of headphones does not offer ambient sound mode. 24.9% of headphones support ambient sound mode.
EQ support
no
This pair of headphones does not support EQ customization. 23.2% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
no
This pair of headphones does not work with a companion app. 21.6% of headphones support companion apps.
Adjustable ANC levels
N/A
Voice assistant support
no
This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants. 60.9% of headphones support voice assistants.
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Battery life
N/A
Battery life with ANC
N/A
Charging time
N/A
Quick charge
no
This pair of headphones does not support quick charging. 33.1% of headphones support quick charge.
Battery capacity
N/A
Show more
Brand name
Audio-Technica
Form factor
over-ear
Weight
200 g
Market range: <14 g – >340 g
This pair of headphones weighs 200 g, lighter than 54.5% of headphones and equal to 1.7% of headphones.
Acoustic design
closed-back
Clamp force
4.5
Market range: <2.5 – >6.1
This pair of headphones has a clamp force of 4.5, higher clamp force than 55.3% of headphones and equal to 2.8% of headphones.
Show more

Audio-Technica ATH M30 vs the average pair of headphones

246810TotalDesignSoundBatteryConnectivityCalls & ControlsFeatures
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • Foldable design
    This pair of headphones has a foldable design, the average pair of headphones does not. 48.3% of headphones are foldable.
  • 1.8 m longer cable length
    This pair of headphones offers a more useful cable length than the average pair of headphones (3 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.
    3 m vs 1.2 m
  • 11 mm more spacious earcup width
    This pair of headphones offers more spacious earcup width than the average pair of headphones (55 mm vs 44 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup width of 44 mm.
    55 mm vs 44 mm
  • 16x higher input power handling
    This pair of headphones has a higher max input power than the average pair of headphones (1,600 mW vs 100 mW). The average headphones handle max input power of 100 mW.
    1,600 mW vs 100 mW
  • Foldable design
    This pair of headphones has a foldable design, the average pair of headphones does not. 48.3% of headphones are foldable.
  • 1.8 m longer cable length
    This pair of headphones offers a more useful cable length than the average pair of headphones (3 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.
    3 m vs 1.2 m
  • 11 mm more spacious earcup width
    This pair of headphones offers more spacious earcup width than the average pair of headphones (55 mm vs 44 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup width of 44 mm.
    55 mm vs 44 mm
  • 16x higher input power handling
    This pair of headphones has a higher max input power than the average pair of headphones (1,600 mW vs 100 mW). The average headphones handle max input power of 100 mW.
    1,600 mW vs 100 mW
  • Direct 3.5 mm plug
    This pair of headphones includes a direct 3.5 mm plug, the average pair of headphones does not. 39.8% of headphones have a 3.5 mm male connector.
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • 2 Hz weaker bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (20 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    20 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 6 mm tighter earcup height
    This pair of headphones has tighter earcup height than the average pair of headphones (54 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.
    54 mm vs 60 mm
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This pair of headphones has fewer microphones than the average pair of headphones (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.
    0 vs 1
  • 5.87x less popular
    Audio-Technica ATH M30 is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • 2 dB/mW lower sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a lower sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (100 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    100 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 5.87x less popular
    Audio-Technica ATH M30 is less popular than the average pair of headphones (1 vs 5.9).
    1 vs 5.87
  • 6.9% worse value for money
    Audio-Technica ATH M30 has worse value for money than the average pair of headphones (6.8 vs 7.3).
    6.8 vs 7.27
  • Fixed cable
    This pair of headphones has a fixed cable, while the average pair of headphones has a detachable one. 62% of headphones have a detachable cable.
  • 6 mm tighter earcup height
    This pair of headphones has tighter earcup height than the average pair of headphones (54 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.
    54 mm vs 60 mm
  • Tangle-prone cable
    This pair of headphones uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average pair of headphones is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
  • 2 Hz weaker bass extension
    This pair of headphones has a higher lowest frequency than the average pair of headphones (20 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    20 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 2 dB/mW lower sensitivity
    This pair of headphones has a lower sensitivity than the average pair of headphones (100 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    100 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 14 dB lower max SPL
    This pair of headphones has a lower max SPL than the average pair of headphones (96 dB vs 110 dB). The average headphones reach a max SPL of 110 dB.
    96 dB vs 110 dB
  • No battery indicator
    This pair of headphones does not show battery level clearly, while the average pair of headphones does. 56.3% of headphones have a battery level indicator.
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This pair of headphones has fewer microphones than the average pair of headphones (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.
    0 vs 1
  • No voice assistant support
    This pair of headphones does not support voice assistants, the average pair of headphones does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • 16 older release date
    This pair of headphones was released earlier than the average pair of headphones (2000 vs 2016). The average headphones were released in 2016.
    January 2000
    2000 vs 2016

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Audio-Technica ATH M30

  • Excellent value for money and highly affordable
  • Balanced sound quality with crisp clarity and punchy bass
  • Durable, sturdy, and tank-like build quality
  • Lightweight design with well-padded headbands
  • Good passive sound isolation from surrounding noise
  • Accurate flat response suitable for entry-level studio monitoring

What customers don't like about Audio-Technica ATH M30

  • Fixed, non-detachable audio cable makes replacement difficult
  • The 3-metre (10-foot) straight cord is overly long for daily commuting
  • Clamping force can feel tight and cause discomfort during long sessions
  • Shallow ear cups can press against the ears, especially for glass wearers
  • Soundstage feels narrow and lacks depth due to the closed-back design
  • High frequencies and treble can occasionally sound harsh or piercing

Verdict

The Audio-Technica ATH-M30 is a professional-grade, closed-back dynamic headphone featuring 40mm neodymium drivers with copper-clad aluminium wire voice coils, providing a frequency response of 20Hz–20,000Hz and a 65-ohm impedance. Main characteristics include a circumaural design for passive noise isolation and a sturdy build with a 3.4m (11ft) single-sided fixed cable. Pros include a relatively neutral sound signature with clear mid-range definition, lightweight comfort (200g) for extended sessions, and high power handling (1,600mW). Cons include a non-detachable, extra-long cable that is inconvenient for portable use, a lack of a collapsible folding mechanism compared to newer models, and synthetic ear pads that may crack over time.

Compare Audio-Technica ATH M30 with other products in the Headphones category

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